TGR writer Stew Shearer takes a look at the recuperative uses of the Nintendo Wii in physical therapy.

“By being able to plug that physical therapy equipment into a computer and interact with a video game it takes your mind off the pain. They can exercise longer and think less about how much it’s hurting.”

This week’s BITMAPS looks at the profound effect that presentation can have on a game’s reception, and how that has potentially colored reviews of the trashy beat-em-up Onechanbara.

And yet, the game has a surprisingly deep combat system that can provide some real tactile gaming thrills. I’m not saying the reviews were wrong, because they reflect a real flaw in the game – the presentation is just plain awful.

Rockstar released multiplayer details for their expansion content today. The package includes Witness Protection, Race, Lone Wolf Biker, Own the City, Club Business, and Chopper vs. Chopper (which sounds the coolest so far).

You might be surprised that Rockstar is including multiplayer with DLC, but The Lost and Damned may as well be a full game, according to this interview which ran this weekend.

"There’s nothing ever been out like it," Vice President of Product Development for Rockstar Games Jeronimo Barrera said. "We’ve done a full game in my opinion, in terms of the production quality and the new gameplay mechanics."

The next Mass Effect DLC will include a fight club arena, according statements from principal lead designer Preston Watamaniuk in a documentary included with Platinum Hits editions of the original game. This will take place in a "kind of a casino, gaming, fight club space station."

Additionally, players should be able to carry over saved characters from the first game to Mass Effect 2. The sequel will also be something of a shift in tone for the series.

"In the second game, you’re actually going to go through a darker period where you’re really looking for answers," Watamaniuk said. "There are a lot of twists and turns, and it’s generally a much darker experience."

This should be exciting for all you wanna-be badasses that always slide across the hood of your Ford Fiesta after hitting the 7-11. Criterion will release their Legendary Cars pack for Burnout Paradise this Thursday, February 19th. The pack will include K.I.T.T. from Knight Rider, the ECTO-1 from Ghostbusters, the DeLorean from Back to the Future, and the General Lee from The Dukes of Hazzard.

Each car is said to cost $1.99, except for the DeLorean which will run $3.99 for some reason. The whole package should cost $7.99.

We can’t tell you the secret just yet but maybe we’ll offer you some hidden clues. From AZ to NC, if you’re a fan, your applause could rattle your walls, windows, door. You might enjoy this news whether you live in a brick house or Vanderbilt dorm. Even people living along Route 286 in rural Pennsylvania ought to be excited. It’ll feel like a bunch of birthday greetings and, really, who could ask for more?

Current speculation is that Commodore 64 games are on the way, as the blurb contains numerous references to songs from The Commodores. If this is true, that means you will not only be able to play Sonic games on a Nintendo console, but Commodore 64 games as well. That’s… that’s just messed up.

Death Tank from Snowblind Studios will hit the XBLA this week, for the apparently new standard price of 1200 MS fun points ($15). The game allows four players in a local game or up to 8 over Xbox Live to jump in (death) tanks and shoot at each other.

Sounds simple, but looks fun. Nothing like a bunch of explosions to lighten the mood.